Tallmadge's Chad Rusinko sets scoring record in record-setting season

High-scoring junior guard leads Tallmadge boys basketball into OHSAA tournament

Feb. 27, 2026 at 10:50am

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Tallmadge junior guard Chad Rusinko has emerged as the leading scorer in Summit County, averaging 25.5 points per game and setting the school's single-season scoring record with 561 points. Rusinko, who starts alongside four seniors, has developed strong chemistry with his teammates through years of playing together. The Blue Devils are seeking their third win over Revere in the Division III, Northeast 3 sectional final.

Why it matters

Rusinko's record-setting season has helped propel Tallmadge into the OHSAA boys basketball tournament, where the Blue Devils will look to make a deep run. The team's strong chemistry and Rusinko's scoring prowess make them a formidable opponent in the postseason.

The details

Rusinko, a 6-foot junior guard, has been the leading scorer for Tallmadge all season, pouring in 561 points in 22 games. He has been efficient, shooting 50% from the field and 71.7% from the free-throw line. Rusinko's scoring has come in a variety of ways, including off steals, transition layups, and a reliable mid-range jumper. While he has had some games where he has forced shots, his teammates trust him to be the primary scoring option.

  • Rusinko concluded the regular season as the leading scorer in Summit County with an average of 25.5 points in 22 games.
  • Tallmadge (11-11, 10-4) will face Revere (12-10, 5-9) in the Division III, Northeast 3 sectional final on Friday, February 27 at 7 p.m.

The players

Chad Rusinko

A 6-foot junior guard who is Tallmadge's leading scorer, averaging 25.5 points per game and setting the school's single-season scoring record with 561 points.

Justen Little

The head coach of the Tallmadge boys basketball team.

Caleb Kendrick

A 5-10 senior guard who is one of Tallmadge's secondary scorers, averaging 7.5 points and 2.4 assists per game.

Anthony Bontempo

A 6-2 senior who averages 7.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for Tallmadge.

Luke Strate

A 6-5 senior who averages 5.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for the Blue Devils.

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What they’re saying

“He can score at all three levels. He has shot free throws a lot better lately, too, which is huge.”

— Justen Little, Tallmadge head coach

“We're really close. We go out every weekend with each other and we bond and then we just have that chemistry. … It's really amazing. I'm truly blessed to play with them, my guys. I really love playing with them. They trust me with the ball and they trust me to do my thing every night. They keep feeding me.”

— Chad Rusinko

“We all tend to know our roles. Robbie is the point guard. Luke's the big man. Me and Caleb are shooters, second and third scorers. We know Chad's gonna put the ball in the hoop, but we gotta make sure we play defense. He also plays defense, but we gotta play defense, rebound, box out and try as hard as we can.”

— Anthony Bontempo, Tallmadge senior

What’s next

The winner of the Tallmadge-Revere sectional final will advance to the Division III district tournament.

The takeaway

Tallmadge's strong team chemistry and Rusinko's record-setting scoring have made the Blue Devils a dangerous team in the OHSAA tournament. The senior-laden squad will look to make a deep postseason run behind their high-scoring junior guard.